Cap for an aerosol can



Feb. 15, 1966 F. s. PATTON ETAL CAP FOR AN AEROSOL CAN Filed Feb. 26,1962 FIGZ so FIG. 5

IN VENTQRS PATTON BY Kl N6 United States Patent This invention relatesto covers and, more particularly, to covers for containers.

This application is a continuation in part of patent application, SerialNo. 718,008, filed February 27, 1958, which issued as Patent No.3,022,922 on February 27, 1962.

In the art of container covers such as a cap for the familiar aerosolcan and the like which has a breast on the top with a central valvemounting cup concentric to the breast, it has been common practice toprovide .a cup like cover or cap having a portion engaging the valvemounting cup and a rim engaging the outer edge of the outer portion ofthe container of the can. The outer portion of the cover usually has apleasing appearance and, also, protects the valve. These covers havevarious disadvantages in the manner in which they are secured to the canas well as the manner in which they permit access to the valve.

The present invention provides a cover which is simpler and moreefficient than prior covers.

It is, accordingly, an object of the present invention 1; a

to provide a cover for a container which is simple in construction,economical to manufacture, and simple and etficient to use.

Another objection of the invention is to provide an improved cap for anaerosol can which provides access to:

the valve of the can when the cap is in place thereon.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved cap foran aerosol can.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved means forattaching an aerosol can cap to an aerosol can.

With the above and other objects in view, the present invention consistsof the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fullydescribed, illustrated in the accompanying drawing and more particularlypointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that changes maybe made in the form, size, proportions, and minor details ofconstruction without departing from the spirit or sacrificing .any ofthe advantages of the invention.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a side view partly in cross section of a cap according to theinvention;

FIG. 2 is a side view partly in cross section of the embodiment shown inFIG. 1 supported on a can;

FIG. 3 is a view of another embodiment of a cap;

FIG. 4 is across sectional View taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 5; and

FIG. 5 is .a side view of the cap shown in FIG. 4.

Now with more specific reference to the drawing, the can shown in FIGS.1 and 2 is indicated at 10. The can has side walls 11 with a breast 12extending upwardly from the side walls. The breast 12 is generallyfrustoconical and terminates at its upper end at .a mounting cup 14. Themounting cup 14 may be formed by rolling the material of the breast 12outwardly to form an overhanging shoulder which is annular in form andoverhangs the breast.

The sides extend upwardly and the breast is curved downwardly, thenupwardly and again downwardly, and then overlies the side walls 11 ofthe can, thereby de- 3,235,132 Patented Feb. 15, 1966 fining a channeloutwardly of the breast 12 in which a rim 13 can rest.

A valve such as valve 124 in FIG. 4 has a lever such as lever 125 inFIG. 4 which may be engaged by the thumb of the user. The valve may havean opening to spray a stream of fluid parallel to the axis of the can10.

A cap 18 is generally in the form of a hollow cylinder with an outsidecylindrical surface terminating at one end at the rim 13. The other endterminates in a rolled over portion 16 which overlies and grips theupper edge 27 of a spring clip 28. The spring clip 28 has generally theshape of an inverted frustocone. It extends inwardly in a downwardlycurving path as shown in FIG. 2 and the inner ends 28 are curveddownwardly at a greater curvature and underlies a shoulder 15 of thecan.

The spring clip 28 can be made in the form of a frusto-conical sheethaving an opening at the center with the inner edge defining the hole 29thereof being rolled out to form a generally resilient part which restsagainst the breast of the can while the part adjacent to theintermediate part rests under the shoulder 15.

The clip 28 may have radially extending spaced slots 30 which definefingers, thereby providing more resiliency to the clip. The clip couldbe made without the slots. Since the top is open, the operator can reachthe valve without removing the cap.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 3, similar parts arenumbered the same as in FIGS. 1 and 2 but with two hundred addedthereto. In this embodiment, cap 218 may be open at both ends. The lowerend terminates at a rim 213. Integral clips 228 may be attached theretoand generally formed. When in position on the can, the clips 228 will bedeflected and conform generally to the contour of the breast. Yet, theinner curved ends 229 will underlie the shoulder.

Any effort to remove the cap will cause the clip to straighten and gripthe shoulder tighter. Of course, if a sufiicient force is exerted, theclip will. slip over the shoulder.

The aerosol valve will be accessible to the operator. It will also sprayout of the top when the valve is depressed while the cap will guard thevalve during shipping and storage.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, similar partsare numbered as in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 but with one hundredadded thereto. A cap 118 is shown supported on the can. This cap has therim turned inwardly to form a resilient portion to underlie the bulgingpart of the breast in the manner as in the parent application. The topof the cap has an integral clip 128 rolled inwardly to define an openingat 130 to receive the valve cup 114. The clip 128 will underlie theshoulder 115 and thereby hold the cap in position and urge it downwardlyinto a channel 122.

The cap is formed with a cleft at one side thereof into which anoperator may insert his finger to more easily engage a lever 125. Thecap could have a cleft similar to cleft 135 at the opposite side fromthe one shown so that the valve could spray laterally instead ofvertically.

The foregoing specification sets forth the invention in its preferredpractical forms but the structure shown is capable of modificationwithin a range of equivalents without departing from the spirit thereofor from the scope of the appended claims.

3 The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property orprivilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. In combination a cap and an aerosol can, said can having afrusto-conical breast terminating at its upper end in an annular topwith shoulder portions overhanging said breast, generally cylindricalsides attached at their upper ends to said breast, said cap beinggenerally cylindrical in shape and terminating at one end in a rim, aninwardly extending clip integrally attached to said rim and inclininginwardly and upwardly toward said shoulder portions and toward theopposite end of said cap, said clip being made of resilient material,said rim of said cap resting in .a channel formed by said breastadjacent said sides, the distal end of said clip underlying and engagingsaid shoulder portions, said cap being open at its top and having acleft in the side at the end thereof opposite said rim, a valveextending from the upper end of the can and received in the opening insaid cap top, and an operating lever attached to said valve andextending from said valve toward said cleft, said cleft being of a sizeto receive the finger of an operator to operate said lever. 2. Incombination, an aerosol can and a cover therefor,

said can having generally cylindrical sides and a generallyfrusto-conical'breast attached to the upper ends of said sides, saidbreast terminating at its upper end in an annular top with a shoulderportion overhanging said breast,

a cap, said cap having a rim, an inwardly extending clip attached to theinner periphery of said cap adjacent an end of said cap and inclininginwardly toward said shoulder portion and toward the opposite end ofsaid cap,

said clip being made of resilient material,

said rim of said cap resting in a channel,

said channel being formed by said sides and said breast,

the distal ends of said clip underlying said shoulder portion,

said cap being open at one end and having a cleft in the side at the endthereof opposite said rim,

said can having a valve in said annular top extending upwardlytherefrom,

a laterally extending operating lever attached to said valve extendinglaterally toward said cleft,

said cleft being adapted to receive the finger of an operator wherebysaid operator may operate said lever,

said clip being in the form of a frusto-conical shaped resilient memberof sheet material having the base of said frusto-conical shape fixed tosaid cylindrical wall,

the inner end of said frusto-conical clip defining an opening adapted toreceive the valve mounting cup of an aerosol can with the ends of saidclip disposed under said shoulder portion,

the base of said clip being integrally attached to said wall at saidrim.

References Cited by the Examiner LOUIS I. DEMBO, Primary Examiner.

RAPHAEL M. LUPO, ERNEST A. FALLER,

Examiners.

1. IN COMBINATION A CAP AND AN AEROSOL CAN, SAID CAN HAVING AFRUSTO-CONICAL BREAST TERMINATING AT ITS UPPER END IN AN ANNULAR TOPWITH SHOULDER PORTIONS OVERHANGING SAID BREAST, GENERALLY CYLINDRICALSIDES ATTACHED AT THEIR UPPER ENDS TO SAID BREAST, SAID CAP BEINGGENERALLY CYLINDRICAL IN SHAPE AND TERMINATING AT ONE END IN A RIM, ANINWARDLY EXTENDING CLIP INTEGRALLY ATTACHED TO SAID RIM AND INCLININGINWARDLY AND UPWARDLY TOWARD SAID SHOULDER PORTIONS AND TOWARD THEOPPOSITE END OF SAID CAP, SAID CLIP BEING MADE OF RESILIENT MATERIAL,SAID RIM OF SAID CAP RESTING IN A CHANNEL FORMED BY SAID BREAST ADJACENTSAID SIDES, THE DISTAL END OF SAID CLIP UNDERLYING AND ENGAGING SAIDSHOULDER PORTIONS, SAID CAP BEING OPEN AT ITS TOP AND HAVING A CLEFT INTHE SIDE AT THE END THEREOF OPPOSITE SAID RIM, A VALVE EXTENDING FROMTHE UPPER END OF THE CAN AND RECEIVED IN THE OPENING IN SAID CAP TOP,AND AN OPERATING LEVER ATTACHED TO SAID VALVE AND EXTENDING FROM SAIDVALVE TOWARD SAID CLEFT, SAID CLEFT BEING OF A SIZE TO RECEIVE THEFINGER OF AN OPERATOR TO OPERATE SAID LEVER.